Catrice SA

I returned home from 3 months in the USA to find a fun package of samples from Catrice cosmetics. Nothing like some new makeup to brighten up a jet lag situation of epic proportions. 

I got straight to trying and testing, and I can't wait to share a possible new kit essential or two with you all!

Included in the package:

3 in 1 Skin tone adapting makeup in Medium 020

Multi Colour blush in 080 Peach Frappucino 

Smokey Eyes set 030

Prime and Fine anti-red cover stick

Camouflage cream 025 Rosy Sand

Luminous Lips 040

Ultimate Colour 360

Carry bag (not featured)

Firstly, I need to mention the most fantastic product I found in the bag- the 3 in 1 Skin Tone adapting makeup.

It is a white liquid makeup, containing tiny dots of colour that are hardly visible. It goes on the skin smoothly, is relatively blendable, and miraculously changes colour as it spreads. I have no idea how they have achieved this wonderful witchery but it's quite fantastic to behold. I have been using it as a foundation on myself, and it has good coverage. I tried it on 2 other faces, one younger and one older, of slightly different tones, and it was a colour match. I love that I could use this on the same face in different seasons as skin naturally gets lighter or darker. This is definitely a kit essential and comes in general light, medium and dark shades. 

The camouflage cream is great for under the eyes and hiding blemishes. I also have used it as a highlighter cream. It has a thick but spreadable consistency and I personally like to apply it with the ring finger. The coverage is amazing. 

The multi colour blush swept over with a brush has a lovely natural pink colour, the pigment is rich and can be more peach or more mauve, depending were you gather the colour from. Definitely a shade for medium skin, but I'm sure the brand stocks a shade for every skin tone. 

The smokey eyes set has 4 shadows:

-a highlighter colour which is matte and highly pigmented. ( Place this under the brows on the brow bone and on the inner corners of the eyes near the tear ducts for extra impact)

-a medium brown which is less pigmented and slightly glittery. Apply this lashes to crease and blend for a lighter smokey look, or simply in the eye crease blended out for an easy cut crease. 

-a dark brown also less pigmented and needs extra application for depth of color. 

-a black cream based shadow which is unexpected, but useful! I've used it as a base for the darker colours and also as an eyeliner when applied with a small angle brush along the lash line. 

The anti-red cover stick is a light green colored concealer style cream that neutralizes blemishes with a red tone. A make-up artist secret until recently, it can come in handy if you know how to use it properly. Make sure to use sparingly under your usual base makeup. If you're unsure how to use this product, proceed with caution. 

The luminous lips and ultimate colour lip shades are both great. I'm particularly in love with the cherry red. It has good staying power especially when applied properly with a liner and set with powder (see my previous post on red lipstick application secrets) and the colour is just incredible! 

I created a look using all these products except the nude lipshade and darkest brown eyeshadow. 

Thanks to Cosmetix SA for sending this lovely package! I look forward to discovering what else this affordable brand has to offer! 

Catrice cosmetics are available at Dischem stores, South Africa.

Www.dischem.co.za

xoxo B xoxo

Laura Mercier love

As a little treat, my American surprised me with a few Laura Mercier products. I had never encountered these here in SA, and I have to say I am officially a MASSIVE fan. 

My first try was the foundation primer in Radiance Bronze. It has a lovely bronzed look and when applied, gives an "inner glow". The texture is not greasy at all and it has been the only primer thus far that has actually bonded with the particular foundation I use on my clients (as ironic as that sounds).

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer- Radiance Bronze

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer -Radiance Bronze 

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance Bronze -Close up glow effect on hand

I have the little sample version of the translucent setting powder, which is super. I love to have it in my make-up travel kit- the size is so perfect for touch ups! It has a more yellow tinge to it which leaves a great tone and compliments that inner glow look.

Laura Mercier Setting Powder ( Pic borrowed from Sephora.com)

I also have a highlighting powder compact and a contour shade compact. AMAZING! The highlighter is like SILK, glitter-free and light pearl in colour. Perfect for making cheekbones gloriously prominent and beauty editorial worthy. I cannot rave enough about this product. 

Laura Mercier Highlighter (Pic borrowed from Sephora.com)

The bronzer shade I have is so perfect for light- medium skin tones, doesn't look dirty on the face, and is shimmer-free, which is key for more natural looking contour.

(well used) Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Bronze -03

Thanks to the staff at Sephora somewhere in Texas for guiding my cowboy through his first Sephora journey. I can't wait to try some more products from the Laura Mercier range on my next trip to the USA!

Products available from:
www.sephora.com
www.lauramercier.com

xoxo B xoxo

The Nakeds

I recently acquired a foreign boyfriend. American. The out-doorsy Texan kind. An absolutely wonderful man- generous, kind, caring and ever so patient. Surprisingly also the sort of man that I can trust to accompany me into a Sephora, and know he won't complain too much about spending a week camping in there, comparing hand swatches and debating quality and prices with me. I'm not the only one girls, we all know the struggle...

Anyhoo, on his trip over to South Africa, he asked if he could bring anything over for me from the great land of the free. Naturally I put in an order to break the bank as we rarely have this sort of opportunity offered to us artists over here at the forgotten end of the planet.

Yes, my man went cosmetics shopping for me, *gasp* babysat my eye shadows for over 30 hours of flight time, and I can now claim to be the proud owner of not one, not two, but THREE Urban Decay Naked palettes straight from Sephora. My days of YouTube and Insta-envy are over. Well, for now.

Urban Decay Naked 1,2,3

Having never tried the brand or an original product, I wasn't sure how to decide between the 3. 

I did a TON of research on which was the most versatile palette. Now I can tell for myself, and I feel an obligation to let the world know that the Naked 2 is the one to get if one must make a choice. As a make-up artist in a country with the most diverse skin tones, cultures, tastes and textures in the world, I can see the value in this particular range of shades. I also love the very black shade in this one, it's a strong pigment. Tease is a good matte crease colour, and Snakebite pigment is superb- it shows up a lot darker than it looks in the palette.

Naked 2

You'll notice there's a colour missing in  my Naked 2. The little metal containers had not been stuck to the palette container properly and it fell out as I opened it. Ironically it's the only one that has broken, and the shade is called BUSTED. 

If you have the extra cash and have blue or green eyes, get the Naked 3. The shades in 3 will make those eyes POP like crazy. .

Naked 3

Naked 1 is super for natural girls who love a basic, easy to wear look. I especially love Darkhorse, Naked and Buck. Virgin is a great brow bone highlighter.

I love these palettes for bridal looks, everyday wear and evening wear. The lasting power of the pigments is not as good as some professional products I am used to, but I think they are definitely worth having in your personal make-up kit.

Below is a look I created with the Buck, Tease and black shades on Monica, one of my lovely brides, and then a look on myself using BUSTED which is of course no longer part of my collection. ;)

xoxo B xoxo